Understanding Hybrid Spaces: Designing a Spacetime Model to Represent Dynamic Topologies of Hybrid Spaces
Wolfgang Höhl
TL;DR
The paper addresses the challenge of visualizing dynamic, hybrid topologies that merge real and virtual spaces. It introduces a three-level spacetime framework (places/media, perception, time/interaction) to unify topology, interaction, and perception, and tests it on an art-exhibition case with a media analysis and an online survey. Findings show that a predominantly quaternary-media modality can map multilocal reach and reveal patterns in range, interactions, and perception, though low survey participation limits generalization. The work offers a foundation for applying spatiotemporal visualization to digital twins, urban planning, and comparative studies of hybrid spaces, while outlining future work to improve representativity and expand mobility considerations.
Abstract
This paper develops a spatiotemporal model for the visualization of dynamic topologies of hybrid spaces. The visualization of spatiotemporal data is a well-known problem, for example in digital twins in urban planning. There is also a lack of a basic ontology for understanding hybrid spaces. The developed spatiotemporal model has three levels: a level of places and media types, a level of perception and a level of time and interaction. Existing concepts and types of representation of hybrid spaces are presented. The space-time model is tested on the basis of an art exhibition. Two hypotheses guide the accompanying online survey: (A) there are correlations between media use (modality), the participants' interactions (creativity) and their perception (understanding of art) and (B) individual parameters (demographic data, location and situation, individual knowledge) influence perception (understanding of art). The range, the number of interactions and the response rate were also evaluated. The online survey generally showed a positive correlation between media use (modality) and individual activity (creativity). However, due to the low participation rate ($P_{TN} = 14$), the survey is unfortunately not very representative. Various dynamic topologies of hybrid spaces were successfully visualized. The joint representation of real and virtual places and media types conveys a new basic understanding of place, range and urban density. Relationships between modality, Mobility and communicative interaction become visible. The current phenomenon of multilocality has been successfully mapped. The space-time model enables more precise class and structure formation, for example in the development of digital twins. Dynamic topologies of hybrid spaces, such as in social media, at events or in urban development, can thus be better represented and compared.